Climate change

• Geography
• Science
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Introduction

Climate change is the defining issue of our time. We have reached a pivotal moment in deciding out planet's future. But what is climate change and its effect on the planet and on us? And what can we do for our collective future?

Instructions

General learning objectives

- The pupils get to know about climate change, global warming and greenhouse gases.

- The pupils will be able to identify and describe the impact climate change has on the world an our daily life.

- The pupils learn ways to take action for our planet.

Materials required

- Mobile phones (optional)

Background information

More information about climate change, global warming and greenhouse gases.

Climate change 

Climate change

Activity to see what the pupils already know about climate change.

Teaching format: pupils can answer questions on their phones. This exercise will also work without phones, by writing the answers on the interactive whiteboard (click on the pencil icon).

quizlet.com

01:26

greenhouse gasses

1. парниковий газ
2. кисень
3. туман
4. вуглекислий газ

02:41

drought

1. пустеля
2. посуха
3. пляж
4. гора

02:52

lack of water

03:09

утвори ступень порівняння для
"cold"

03:17

утвори ступень порівняння для
"hot"

03:31

What usually happened when the icebergs melt fast?

1. rain
2. snow
3. flood
4. fog

04:03

How do you think people must behave to save our planet?

04:32

RRR
reduce recycle reuse

Global warming is not just about temperature.

In some cases... 

places are becoming colder. 

places are becoming hotter.

places are becoming drier.

places are becoming wetter.

                       is not just about temperature.

In some cases... 

Global warming

Global warming is a term used interchangeably with climate change, although the latter is preferred because the warming atmosphere and oceans are just some of the effects we see.

Discuss global warming with the pupils

The Greenhouse Effect

Some sunlight that hits the Earth is reflected back into space,     while the rest       becomes heat.

Greenhouse gases prevent heat from excaping into space. This causes more heat to be kept near Earth's surface, warming our world.

Dr Joeri Rogelj, 

Climate scientist  

Imperial College London Grantham Institute

With this image you can explain The Greenhouse Effect to the puplis.

The effects climate change has on us

Urban populations usually rely on rural areas for inputs such as food and water. If climate change disrupts these important connections, it could heavily affect those in urban areas.

Natural disasters impact poor and vulnerable populations disproportionately hard and expose the consequences of ignoring social inequalities. With extreme weather increasing, these populations face a heightened level of risk.

With longer-lasting drought reservoirs are drying up, as well as the loss of glaciers, which could make drinking water scarce. The drought could devastate crops, threating food security.

Around 190 million people currently live in areas that, due to rising sea levels, are expected to be under high tide levels by 2100. This could cause a massive displacement of populations.

Discuss the effects the effect climate change can have on us (now and in the future)

What can you do
to take action?

Find out what the pupils think they can do for the planet. Discuss the answers afterward. 

Find out of there are pupils in the class that already doing something for the planet. This way the pupils can inspire each other to take action.

(On the next slides you will find some images to represent topics/areas where we can take action)

Travel responsibly

Make your voice heard

Use and support science

Reduce waste

Protect and enjoy green spaces

Reduce energy use

Eat sustainably

Watch what you buy

An image to show some examples of what we can do ourselves to help the planet.

This can help pupils to get even more ideas on how and in which areas they can take action.